"Here!" Tseran states suddenly as he lifts aside the paper to examine the blotting-sheet, holding it up with exquisite delicacy as though for fear that the ink will flow from it somehow were he to be too rough, "This is the map I saw, the inverse of it in any event. We're fortunate he didn't have a sand-table for the blotting. But was it a forgery or..?" - setting the map to one side he goes through the remainder of the source material, looking for what it was duplicated from - more modern maps, older source material...

 ...a forger forges after all, that's rather the point of the process and to do so most require an original or originals to work from.

 Between that, and his grasp of Dethek - which for all its considerable linguistic similarities to the Common speech is still irksome for its tendency to leave out little niceties that the carvers didn't think important (like proper spelling and punctuation) and to vary wildly by location (also like the Common tongue) after the fashion of a short-lived race - he starts trying to work out what this mysterious fortress was supposed to be.

Finding some recently used tracing paper, Tseran discerned from the indentations that the map had indeed been copied and adapted from an existing map. It perhaps included the fortified structure, but not the runes and other marks. However, that original map was nowhere to be found.

Reading the reversed runes, Tseran found the fortification was labelled Forak Morndin – "Empty Mountain".

OOC: I am shocked, shocked, that you don't have Decipher Script. :p

*

Scanning the store, Aerin narrowed the magical auras down to three locations: a pile of dusty scrolls spilling from a shelf and two points in the jewellery cabinet. Picking her way through the tight aisles of the store, she picked out two scrolls carried unmistakeable magical writings. Amongst the jewellery was a dragonscale pouch that could, and probably had, come from the leather goods store next door. Inside were two pieces of crystal, pretty but probably worthless. There was also a nice cloak pin, with outstretched porcelain wings.

*

While Aerin and Tseran explored the antique store, Orophear, Slove, and Kaijn kept lookout from out in the alley and the street, while Maelarra kept the leather dealer distracted and placated. It had begun to rain, or at least drizzle, bringing with it a misty, smoggy haze.

A figure stepped out of the haze, clad in studded leather armour, carrying a light wooden shield and a club, swinging it in time with his confident swagger. The unshaven man glowered at Orophear.  'So, you're the ones Duke Stormkin hired, eh? The old man must be getting desperate.' More ruffians were emerging, from all sides...

'We've got company.' Orophear called warningly into the store.


Round 1:
Initiative:
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Tseran

Aerin had just pocketed the items from the shop when Orophear called out. "And here I was thinking this would be a boring day." she said to herself, then swiftly made her way to stand beside Orophear and Kaijn, drawing Frostbite on her way to the fight.

The dragonkin gave the thugs a broad, toothy smile "Excellent, now come... make my day!" she growled and waved invitingly with the huge sword in her hands, causing tiny shards of ice to fall and melt on the ground.

Kaijn had been searching the store when he heard the warning. Turning around he moved over to stand near the dragon warrior.

Slowly he slipped his hands into his pockets amd grabbed some materials to a spell.

"I suggest you leave now before it gets ugly." he says addressing the thug.

OOC: Delay action, but will cast hold person on anyone attempting to attack him

Slove unlike the other has no problem with holding back.  Thugs are thugs.
He lets two arrows fly before anybody has time to think.
Attacking the nearest Thug to him.

Then he turns to leader.
Shhhhh.  As my friend says.  Leave before it get ugly.

At this point he drops his hood.  Showing them what ugly really means.
In the rain the red scares on the left side of his face pulse like flowing larva.

Kaijn Tur'kin has seem Slove face before but for other this first time they look on horror that is Slove.

OOC:
19:56, Today: Slove rolled 24 using 1d20+12.  Attack with bow (RP).
19:56, Today: Slove rolled 28 using 1d20+12.  Attack with bow (RP).
19:57, Today: Slove rolled 13 using 1d8+5.  Damage.
19:57, Today: Slove rolled 11 using 1d8+5.  Damage.

Result:-
AC 24 or below = 24 damage (26 if in 30 ft)
AC 25 - 28     = 11 damage (12 if in 30 ft)

Note:- Slove have Charisma of 6.  To reflect it he been burned by some form of arcane magic that make half his face look like hideous mass of pulsing flesh.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Fri 16 Feb 2018.

The street thugs quickly scurried into position, some behind barrels and crates with crossbows drawn, others venturing into the open with their clubs and cheap shortswords. A few tossed away phials which smashed down the cobblestones and walls. They wanted the travellers to know they were bolstered by magical potions.

With no time for niceties, Slove turned and fired two arrows at one behind; one struck the barrel he quickly ducked behind, the other zipped past his upper arm in a spray of red. But the drizzly rain made it hard to see and made the bowstrings wet. [Rain reduces ranged weapon attack. Second attack hits.]

The leader scowled, then spat in contempt, adding to the filth in the alley. 'Looks like it's already ugly. Get them!'

The crossbowman behind the barrel let his bolt fly, piercing the rain and the elf's shoulder. [#5: attack 21, damage 6 @ Slove]

The wounded thug slunk of hiding, trying to trust his short sword into Aerin's back. But then, whether he slipped on a wet cobblestone, or lost his nerve at facing the dragon-woman, he made a clumsy slash, missing by a mile. [#4: move and attack Aerin, rolls 1, miss]

On the other side, the one behind the crate sniped at Orophear. The bolt hit him in the neck, and seemed to have been tainted with something potent, for he slumped to the ground. [#3: shoots Orophear, out of the fight]

The last two thugs rushed on Aerin and Kaijn, clubs raised high. The leader couldn't crack Aerin's defences, even aided by the one behind. The other had more luck trying to club Kaijn down. [#1 & #2 charge, attack 18 and 20. #2 hits, 7 damage to Kaijn]

*

Upstairs, in the study, Tseran heard cries and the clash of battle being joined in the alley behind the shop. It would be easy to find a grimy rear window overlooking the commotion...

Mid-Round Update:



S: Slove
O: Orophear (unconscious)
A: Aerin
K: Kaijn
T: Tseran

Rain: Reduces visibility ranges by half, resulting in a −4 penalty on Spot and Search checks. Automatically extinguishes any unprotected flames, causes protected flames (such as those of lanterns) to dance wildly and have a 50% chance of extinguishing these lights. Ranged weapon attacks and Listen checks are at a −4 penalty.

Initiative:
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
8 - Tseran
This message was last updated by the GM at 11:56, Mon 19 Feb 2018.

 And that's exactly what Tseran does, moving to a particularly grimy patch of window-glass and rolling his eyes before deciding to do something that he'd more or less promised himself he wouldn't while in city limits...

 ...and hoping quite reasonably that the rain and the commotion will steal any degree of detail from what's going on as he snaps his fingers once - a flicker of light flashing between them - and a brief, concussive roar of flame erupts in the street downstairs.

 ---

 Fiery Burst, G-5/H-6.
 Catches Mooks 1 & 2, 7 damage, DC 17 for half.
 And, rather delightfully I don't think I have to break the window to do it. ^_^

Fire erupted amongst the pair of thugs, forcing them to dance and dive to avoid it. The leader evaded it neatly, but his companion was not lucky, clothes singed and skin burned. [Reflex saves 20 and 12, w/ Evasion. #1 untouched, #2 takes 7 damage]

But then Tseran's keen elf ears heard a clatter amongst the cluttered store, a creak upon the stair. He wasn't alone – one of the thugs was in the store behind him!

*

However, the adventurers weren't the only ones armed with magic. Calaunt was a city full of illusions and dark magic, after all. Two more figures entered the alley, scuttling along the walls like spiders, hoods concealing their faces, grey cloaks hanging from them. Toes grasping windowsills, their hands weaved spells.

There was a rushing sound, rising to a crescendo, before dropping abruptly. The alley was plunged into an absolute silence, the rain falling without a sound. People opened their moves, but no words came out. [Silence: Will DC 15 or be silenced]

Overhead, one thrust out her hand, and whirling rainbows showered over Slove and Aerin. The flashing coloured lights were bewildering and beguiling... [Aerin & Slove: Will save DC 15 or be Stunned 1 round]


Round 2:



S: Slove
O: Orophear (unconscious)
A: Aerin
K: Kaijn
T: Tseran

M1: Mage #1 on wall in K7, 20 ft up
M2: Mage #2 on wall in F2, 15 ft up

Silence: Silence fills the alley

Rain: Reduces visibility ranges by half, resulting in a −4 penalty on Spot and Search checks. Automatically extinguishes any unprotected flames, causes protected flames (such as those of lanterns) to dance wildly and have a 50% chance of extinguishing these lights. Ranged weapon attacks and Listen checks are at a −4 penalty.

Initiative:
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
14 - Mages
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Tseran
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:19, Sun 25 Feb 2018.

Slove can see loads of light in front of him.
So he unable to fire his bow until they are gone.

OOC:
13:41, Today: Slove rolled 10 using 1d20+3.  Will Save.

Stunned Aerin dropped her sword and could do nothing but be a target...

ooc: Will save 7 (nat1)
This message was last edited by the player at 09:45, Tue 06 Mar 2018.

Unprotected by Aerin, surrounded by the street thugs, Kaijn tried frantically to cast a spell, any spell he could cast without a word, but they did not give him the chance, harassing and interfering with every effort. [Kaijn NPCed. Defensive casting, Concentration 14, fail]

One of the cloaked mages made some cryptic hand gestures, which the thugs watching mirrored for the others to see. [Mages delay]

Then the thugs struck, the leader swinging his club for her head, forcing her to react, however dazedly. This left her flank exposed to the one behind, who jabbed his club hard into the gap between breastplate and pauldron. [Flanking. #1 attack 16, miss. #4 attack 24, hits damage 6 and Sneak Attack 2, total damage 8 @ Aerin]

The other thug thrust his club at the mage's hands, hoping to ruin any further attempts at spellcasting, but certainly bruising a knuckle. [#2 attack 24, damage 5 @ Kaijn]

Then all three backed off, retreating to opposite ends of the alley, giving the mages above a worrying amount of space. Kaijn tried to slice one's unprotected back, but they narrowly avoided it. [Thugs move, provoke AoOs from Kaijn. AoO attack 15, miss]

The two crossbowmen then fired bolts at Aerin and Slove again, hoping to soften them up some more, but narrowly missing with their slippery strings and triggers. [#3 attack 14 @ Aerin; #5 attack 17 @ Slove; bot miss for rain]

Scuttling up the walls above the area of magical silence, the mages weaved new spells, their effects not immediately apparent...

[Secret to Aerin of Damar: Suddenly the ground dropped away beneath Aerin's boots, the filthy cobbles raining down into a vast chasm. Only a narrow sliver of ground remained for her to walk upon, however precariously. Worse, she felt wildly dizzy... [Will DC 15 or suffer vertigo: must make Balance DC 10 in order to move, fail by 5 or more and fall prone]]

*

Tseran had been peering through the window glass, but the shutters suddenly slammed shut, causing him to startle. And he could still hear the thug creeping up the stair...

Mid-Round Update:

Thug #1 in L5, Thug #2 in L6, Thug #4 in C5

Stunned: drop everything held, take -2 AC and lose Dex to AC

Initiative:
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Mages
8 - Tseran

Despite being stunned from the visual overload, Aerin's mind defiantly fought the vertigo the magic tried to induce. The ground may have dropped away, but the unsettling feeling left her untouched.

ooc: 10:52, Today: Aerin of Damar rolled 15 using 1d20+6.  Will save DC15.

OOC: Is G7 outside of the silence spell?

OOC: Kaijn can't tell where the silence zone ends, it being an unseen effect. You'd have to go into the square to find out. :)

 Grimacing, Tseran turns to look between door and window before hastily chanting, his body being sheathed in a flicker of mage-light as he casts Mage Armour upon himself and starts to move, fishing his new boots out of his bag as he does so and tucking them under the curtains by the window... Then starting to sneak over behind the stairwell door.

 ---

 Casting, then drawing as part of my move and dropping in place (free action). Basically, I want to make it look like I'm hiding behind the curtain with my boots, then go hide behind the door because that's way more fun than just shooting him at the top of the stairs. ^_^

OOC: You mean Mister Mage wants to go to melee? :p Alright.

With an act of will, Aerin tried to ignore the vertigo-inducing illusion and keep her balance. Once staggering uncertainly on the cobblestones, she planted her feet firmly and the vision faded away, replaced by the sight of firm ground once more.

*

Upstairs, Tseran prepared his ruse. Now, to see if a street thug used to life in a city of deceit would fall for it...


Round 3:



S: Slove
O: Orophear (unconscious)
A: Aerin
K: Kaijn
T: Tseran

1–5: Thugs (#2 and #4 badly wounded, #2 in brown over the drain)

M1: Mage #1 on wall in F7, 20 ft up
M2: Mage #2 on wall in K2, 15 ft up

Silence: Silence fills the alley

Rain: Reduces visibility ranges by half, resulting in a −4 penalty on Spot and Search checks. Automatically extinguishes any unprotected flames, causes protected flames (such as those of lanterns) to dance wildly and have a 50% chance of extinguishing these lights. Ranged weapon attacks and Listen checks are at a −4 penalty.

Initiative:
8 - Tseran
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Mages
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:47, Tue 27 Mar 2018.

As the stunning effect of the first spell slowly faded, Aerin fought against the unbalancing spell that assaulted her visual cortex with false images of a non-existing floor. Forcing herself to ignore what her intellect understood was impossible, she moved to stand over Orophear's body, drawing the old sword that her uncle had given her when she left Rashemen to seek her own future. But she would not only stand guard over her fallen comerade, knowing about the threat, which the casters posed, the dragonkin inhaled deeply, then sent a cone of fire at the first caster. Hot flames engulfed the wannabe spiderman. Thank the gods for the driving rain, thus she did not have to worry about setting the building on fire.

ooc:
Move to: F4, draw sword as part of movement.
Standard: Fire breath at wannabe spidey in F2, 32pts fire damage, refl.DC14 for half.
Breath weapon reload time: 3rds.

09:42, Today: Aerin of Damar rolled 3 using 1d4.  Breath Weapon Reload time.
09:41, Today: Aerin of Damar rolled 32 using 6d8.

This message was last updated by the player at 12:08, Mon 12 Mar 2018.

OOC: Since it is raining, next round I'll apply a dampness effect, giving fire resistance 2.

I got the numbers mixed up. I'll presume you mean the one in K2.

The cloaked mage tried to dodge the wave of fire, but the conjured stickiness that let him scale the wall like a spider prevented him from moving anywhere fast. And then it was suddenly too wet to get a grip on the window sill, the wall, or anything. He fell, and was enveloped in roaring flame, becoming a raging fireball, which crashed into the crates below. As the rain put out the fire, only a charred corpse remained.

Mid-Round Update:

Mage #2 in K2 incinerated

Initiative:
8 - Tseran
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Mages

[Private to GM: Tseran's Bluff check:
12:52, Today: Tseran Tal'chiar rolled 8 using 1d20.  I'm not good at this..]

The Rashemi watched the mage burn and fall with a mixture of relief and satisfaction, these two had taken Kaijn's means to participate in the fight, they needed to be taken care of before they could do even more damage. When the spellcaster didn't move anymore, she tore her eyes away and looked at the other one on the wall. Pointing her sword straight at him, her snarl told him silently that he was next on her list of people to roast...

ooc: Voiceless attempt at intimidation ;)
11:44, Today: Aerin of Damar rolled 22 using 1d20+13.  Intimidate.

With no words Slove picks up his bow and fires at the mage across from him.
The elf has little love for mage and this his time enjoy some payback.
The first arrow drops out of his hands and onto the floor.
The second has better effect.

OOC:
20:27, Today: Slove rolled 13 using 1d20+12.  Attack with bow (leave GM to ajust).
20:27, Today: Slove rolled 30 using 1d20+12.  Attack with bow (leave GM to ajust).
20:28, Today: Slove rolled 10 using 1d8+5 (forgot +1 adjustment Point Blank Shot).  Damage.

Damage should be 11 hp.

OOC: The demoralize in combat application of Intimidate only applies to those you threaten. So, that won't have the Shaken effect, but it does make them think twice. :)

The other mage, clinging high up the wall, shuddered at the horrific sight of what had befallen his colleague, even if he'd never liked him anyway. Then the elf put an arrow in his leg, and he knew he had to protect himself better. [Slove hits, deals 11 damage]

Mid-Round Update:

Mage #2 in K2 incinerated; Mage #1 badly wounded

Initiative:
8 - Tseran
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Mage 1

Kaijn stepped through the door opening, he need to find a place where the silence spell no covered.

Ten paces into the shop, and Kaijn found he could hear sounds again. But he also saw another thug, advancing slowly up the stairs...


Mid-Round Update:

Kaijn is outside the silence in G9

Mage #2 in K2 incinerated; Mage #1 badly wounded

Initiative:
8 - Tseran
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Mage 1
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:45, Sun 18 Mar 2018.

Once he hears his steps again he whispers a quiet prayer to Mystra.

Turning to the thug he utters ancient words of magic and out of nowhere balls of ice and snow rain down on the unlucky man.

07:33, Today: Kaijn Tur'kin rolled 21 using 6d6.  Snowball swarm damage.

The thug was taken unawares, and given the close confines of the shop, had nowhere to run or go for cover. Hard-packed snowballs pelted the man, bruising and stinging, as well as smashing antique plates and soaking old books. This was no wintertime play; he was left badly battered and barely conscious. [Thug #6 Reflex 14, fail.]

Two wizards was too much. The man fired his crossbow across the shop, skimming past Kaijn too close for comfort. Then he ducked and ran for it, concealing himself amongst the cluttered aisles and towering heaps. [Thug #6 attack 19, damage 1 @ Kaijn. Moves and hides, Hide 22]

*

Upstairs, still waiting in hiding behind the door and hearing some smashing downstairs, Tseran began to wonder if his victim wasn't coming...

*

With the ranks of their enemies thinned, two of the thugs rushed in again, trying to overwhelm and subdue Aerin with their clubs. But they found themselves seriously outmatched by the dragon warrior. [Thug #1 charge attack 18; Thug #2 move & attack 19; both miss.]

Meanwhile, the others reloaded their crossbows and fired, bolt after bolt after bolt at Slove, but the rain made their strings and shafts slippery and obscured their sight, even before reckoning with the nimble elf's evasiveness. [Thugs 2, 3, & 5, attacks 7, 18, & 12; all miss]

The remaining mage, rapidly losing confidence after seeing the fate of his fellow, scuttled alongside of the building while whispering urgently to himself. Or perhaps not to himself. Then he weaved a spell to hurl at Slove; the elf archer began to feel tired and worn. [Mage moves, casts spell @ Slove. Make Will DC 13 or take 7 nonlethal damage]

Then something odd began to happen. They couldn't hear it, of course, but they could feel it, a deep bass vibration rising up from the ground, growing louder, coming closer...

Round 4:



S: Slove
O: Orophear (unconscious)
A: Aerin
K: Kaijn
T: Tseran

1–5: Thugs (#2 and #4 badly wounded, #2 in brown over the drain)
6: Thug #6, inside shop, critically wounded

M1: Mage #1 on wall in K7, 20 ft up

Silence: Silence fills the alley

Rain: Reduces visibility ranges by half, resulting in a −4 penalty on Spot and Search checks. Automatically extinguishes any unprotected flames, causes protected flames (such as those of lanterns) to dance wildly and have a 50% chance of extinguishing these lights. Ranged weapon attacks and Listen checks are at a −4 penalty.

Initiative:
8 - Tseran
26 - Slove
25 - Kaijn
21 - Aerin
18 - Orophear
 8 - Thugs
 8 - Mages
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 08:06, Thu 12 Apr 2018.